German Playboy has distanced itself from an interview with Ennio Morricone after it quoted the Italian composer referring to Quentin Tarantino as a “cretin”.

The German edition of the men’s magazine says a freelance reporter may have misquoted the legendary 90-year-old film composer in its latest edition.

The interview, published last week, quoted Morricone referring to the US film director as a “cretin” who stole ideas from others.

He was also quoted as saying the Oscars ceremony was “boring”.

Morricone, who won an Oscar in 2016 for the music for Tarantino’s film The Hateful Eight, has vehemently denied criticising the director, his films or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“I consider Tarantino a great director,” Morricone said.

He also credited their collaboration for his Oscar success, “which is for sure one of the greatest acknowledgements of my career, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to compose music for his film”.

German Playboy, which is published by Munich-based Hubert Burda Media, said that “up to now, we have considered the freelancer who conducted the Ennio Morricone interview on our behalf to be a renowned print and radio journalist”.

Florian Boitin, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said in a statement: “Based on the information now at our disposal, we must unfortunately assume that the words spoken in the interview have, in part, been reproduced incorrectly.

“We would like to express our regret should Mr Morricone have been portrayed in a false light,” he added.

“We are working to clarify this matter and are exploring legal measures.”